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Blue RIdge Parkway

Yahoo Message Number: 102365
I hope someone with more experience can give me some advice.
 DW and I are in New England and headed in Sept to Watkins Glen, NY.  After that we will return to Florida via I-81 through Virginia. I have an '01 Magna and wanted to drive down "Sky Line Drive" through the Shenandoah National Forest and continue down the "Blue Ridge Parkway" south towards. Asheville. I know the coach is too high for the tunnels at the lower end of the Parkway, but can I travel down as far as Roanoke from the northern end in Front Royal, VA?
 If anyone has any experience traveling this route I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Kevin

'01 Magna 5982

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102366
Incase you didn't know I-26 now goes all the way to I-81. So you could take I-26 down to Ashville. On a side note for trip to FL, I would avoid I-95 or do some research on current travel issues many friends have been complaining.

Alex Ritchey

2000 affinity 42' tag B&B
Pisgah forest NC


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Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102368
Alex

Thanks for the info regarding I-26.  And we will follow that route if we have to. But we'ver driven the Natchez Trace before and love the "scenic by-ways". Just don't know about the clearance on the tunnels along the Skyline Drive and it's extension, The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Kevin

'01 Magna 5982

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102369
Kevin,

You didn't list the length of your coach. It will  make a big difference in the comfort factor on both the Skyline and the Blue  Ridge. I don't remember the bridge and tunnel clearances but I would think that  a Google search would come up with that info. The 70 plus miles of the Skyline  has a 35 mph speed limit or at least it did when I did it in a Class C. The 600  plus miles of the Blue Ridge is 45 MPH.  Although it climbs and descends  some, it remains pretty much up on the ridge lines but there are constant curves  and some sharp in places. There are not a lot of places to spend the night in a  large motorhome so you will likely have to come down for the nights. That is  where the rub come. Many of the access roads to and from the Blue Ridge are  pretty difficult but not all. The trick is to plan in advance where you will be  comfortable getting down and back up to the Parkway.
 As I said I did a lot of it in a small class C with  no problem but would not have taken my 40 ft Allure up there. But then I  admittedly am not as adventurous as many. That having been said I would keep the  coach down in the valley and do sections of it in your tow vehicle in day trips.  There is not much comparison between the Natchez Trace and the Blue Ridge  Parkway. I have done both.
 Others with a stronger liking for challenge may add  ideas to the contrary.

Don Seager

Former CC Owner         

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102370
Hi Kevin,

We live seven miles off the parkway in Virginia. We've traveled both parkways extensively, by car and motorcycle. We have a 45' Affinity and would not take it on either parkway. The tunnels have low clearances and are very narrow. Even if you had the clearance, you would have to drive through the middle section, blocking traffic. Both parkways have sharp blind curves, again having to drive in the middle. Very scary! There's only one tunnel on the Skyline "Mary's Rock Tunnel" located south of Thorton Gap. Clearance on it is 12'8". Go to the National Park Service website and search tunnel clearances for both parkways. The Blue Ridge section has a chart listing tunnel clearances by milepost. Also, many forums have advice on traveling both parkways. Just google RV travel on each parkway.
I hope this helps. Safe travels!

Maggie and Tom
2007 Affinity

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102371
Don

Thanks for the input. My Magna is 40 feet long and has clearance at 12 ft 6 in.  In doing a little research I see one tunnel at the northern edge has clearance of 12 ft 8 in.  Don't know if I'm comfortable with just 2 in to spare. Of course, I guess I could dump the air in the air bags and crawl through that one tunnel....

Thanks again.
Kevin

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102372
Do yourself a favor and FORGET this idea or you will will NEVER forget what you got yourself into.
D Jean
CC81072

East Tennessee Hillbilly

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102373
Kevin,

I drove Skyline Drive just last week and I concur with what has been said about not taking the coach on this scenic drive. I stayed at the KOA in Luray, Va. and drove my toad north and south from there. The KOA is a very nice RV park but a little on the expensive side. I don't think you would enjoy the scenery near as much in the coach as you would in the toad. Just my thoughts.

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102374
Good advice from Donald Seagar. Tunnels are low and narrow. Both parkway roads are narrow with sharp blind curves. The National Park Service website has information on tunnel clearances. In search, enter tunnel clearance for each section. The Blue Ridge Parkway has a chart listing clearances by milepost. We live off the parkway and would not take our CC on it.

Safe travels!

Maggie and Tom
2007 Affinity

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102375
Hello Kevin. I have a 42ft '03 Intrigue Ovation and have driven Skyline many times, but ONLY on a motorcycle. I would strongly urge you to consider parking at a local RV park and enjoy the "Drive's" beauty from your toad. Sharp turns, possible heavy traffic, steep grades, and overhanging limbs will make it memorable for the wrong reason. Never mind unexpected wildlife in or crossing the roads. It is beautiful. Enjoy!

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102376
I've driven a portion of the parkway coming into Buchanan, VA from the south.  At the time I was driving a one ton dually with a 32' travel trailer.  Fortunately I didn't run into any tunnels on my route but there were several hairpin turns that required me to use the oncoming lane to ensure my TT didn't go over the inside edge of the road and drag me down in the valley.  My wife was totally freaked out the whole time.  There's no way I'd take my 42' coach on that path.  I'd would be concerned that I may drag the rear on exiting some of the hairpin, steep grade turns.

Britt

2004 Intrigue 11836

www.cojobluegrass.com

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102377
we have a 33' Allure with toad and we wouldn't take it on either the Skyline Drive or the Blueridge Parkway.  Better to see it in the toad.  You can google map it, earth view and see some of the curves.

Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102378
We took our 06 Inspire 36ft to Asheville and stopped at the visitors center off the freeway. Talked to the ranger and took her advice: rented a car from Enterprise, parked the motorhome at the Elks lodge which is almost downtown, and enjoyed 4 days exploring the parkway and surrounding area. VERY glad we did not try it in the motorhome! The first mile or so we saw several low branches that could have been tough to avoid, and then the narrow spots and tight turns! Great area!

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102380
I googled  the tunnel height clearances and there are 3 or 4 tunnels I wouldn't attempt unless you are looking for a coach with out air conditioners or antennae.  and maybe loosing a few vent fan covers on a couple.    All the info is there  with name and order  of the tunnels and individual heights, 

TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102381
Maggie and Tom

Thanks for the reply. You and your wife were just what I was looking for. Some one with personal knowledge of the Drive and the Parkway.

I've found several campgrounds from Front Royal on down to Roanoke. I'm going to take your advice and enjoy "day trips" with our toad.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Kevin Daly

Re: Blue RIdge Parkway

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102382
We drove the Blueridge Parkway in 2013 in our then 32' Bounder towing our Suzuki Samurai. We drove from the bottom end to the Loft Mountain campground on the Shenandoah Parkway. We stayed in every campground on the parkway and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
 This year we are back in our now 36' Country Coach Allure. We have only driven the Parkway this trip from Boone NC to the Rocky Knob campground above Mabry Mill. We stayed in the Doughton Park and Rocky Knob campgrounds on the parkway in the same camping sites we used in 2013.
 You can't set the cruise control and relax like we do on the Interstates. You have to pay attention to oncoming traffic, side clearances, overhead clearances, downhill speeds, whether overlooks are drive through, etc..
 For those of us who like to drive the two lanes it is a fun challenging trip with great scenery and no commercial interruptions. The speed limit is 45 MPH for good reasons. You do need to control downhill speeds -- use the arrow buttons.
 We picked Cool Breeze Campground near Galax VA as our headquarters this summer.  Great campground. We highly recommend staying here.
 We enjoy bluegrass music. We can catch bluegrass and old time music seven days a week within a 21 mile radius from here.

Ernie Payne

Country Coach 36' Allure Summit
Towing 1988 Suzuki Samurai.